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“These people really do actually care. They’re not just going through the motions, they’re genuine people who care about us.”

That’s what Mike, 63, had to say about the coaches who run our Brighter Outlook programme for people with a cancer diagnosis.

Mike (known as ‘Cappuccino Mike’ in his local Starbucks) grew up in Manchester but moved down to Worthing when he was a young man – the town where he met his wife. They’ve been together for more than 30 years.

A big football fan, Mike was playing every week in a local league when he received a call from his doctor.

“I got a phone call from my doctor one night, and he told me there was a problem,” Mike told us.

“I had to tell my football team I wasn’t going to make it that night.”

After undergoing tests and speaking with his doctor, Mike was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

At the beginning of his journey and not knowing quite where to turn, Mike’s football community pointed him in the direction of Albion in the Community.

“I told my team the situation, and that I wouldn’t be able to play every week anymore. The guy who ran the league reached out to me and asked if I’d considered contacting Albion in the Community.

“I had no idea [about AITC] at the beginning, but I looked it up and emailed Rosie (Brighter Outlook co-ordinator), who put me on the waiting list for Brighter Outlook.”

Mike would soon become one of the dozens of people supported by the Brighter Outlook programme every year.

Brighter Outlook works with people before, during, and after cancer treatment in order to build up their strength and fitness, to help them tackle the demands and physical toll of cancer treatment.

Before long, Mike found himself signed up to the programme.

“The next thing I knew Kieran (Brighter Outlook coach) was on the phone to me telling me there was a spot for me, and I signed up straight away,” he told us.

“I went along not knowing what it would be like really. I soon found out it was bloody brilliant.”

WHY MIKE NEEDED BRIGHTER OUTLOOK

Understandably, Mike wasn’t in the best place after receiving his diagnosis.

“Before I started Brighter Outlook I was having a bit of a tough time getting my head around my diagnosis. My diagnosis was worse than they’d first imagined,” Mike said.

After finding out about the programme, Mike was certain that he wanted to do what he could to get fitter and stronger ahead of his treatment.

“I was using the sessions to get fit and lose some weight before my radiotherapy in a few weeks time, so I wanted to be fitter to deal with the rigours of that treatment.

“I just think that the fitter I am, the lighter I am, the stronger I’ll be for my treatment.

“The Brighter Outlook programme is fabulous, I really got loads out of it. It was fantastic. I’ve had a big increase in fitness, but also an increase in determination.

“I’ve lost a lot of weight and I feel much stronger than when I started.”

Mike soon found out that Brighter Outlook participants have a whole range of reasons for signing up to the programme.

“Other people in the group were using it for different reasons, maybe to recover after treatment, or to be in a supportive group. It’s a really lovely group of people.”

MEETING PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND

In Brighter Outlook, Mike found a group of people who could totally relate to what he was going through.

“You’d meet people who are in a similar situation to you, who just understand.

“It’s helped me adopt a positive mental attitude. That positivity from everyone in the group really helps.”

For Mike, Brighter Outlook is all about positivity.

All the better too – the last thing he wants is pity.

Mike told us: “Someone asked me once: ‘Isn’t it a bit miserable, a load of people with cancer meeting up on a Wednesday morning?’

“And I told them no, absolutely not. The amount of positivity in those sessions is phenomenal, and positivity rubs off. There’s no negativity whatsoever.

“As a person with cancer, what you don’t want is a pity party, and you don’t get that at Brighter Outlook. What you do get is people saying ‘Mike, come on, you can do this’, and that just builds your confidence.

“Getting a positive mental attitude is just like gold dust, it really is.”

“THESE PEOPLE REALLY DO CARE”

The Brighter Outlook team at Albion in the Community touch many lives every year, and Mike is no exception.

When we spoke to him, Mike couldn’t stop pouring out his praise and respect for the coaches who have worked with him.

“I’ve got a whole new-found respect for Brighton & Hove Albion for what they do in the community, I’d never realised it before.

“When I first spoke to Rosie, we were singing from the same hymn sheet. I knew I needed to get fitter and give my body the best chance possible.

“Kieran pushes you quite hard. He’s quite a taskmaster! He knows how far to push you, when to stop, and when to kick on.

“I got a phone call from Cara over Christmas asking me how I was doing. It’s just a phone call but it really does mean a lot.

“These people really do actually care. They’re not just going through the motions, they’re genuine people who care about us.

“That goes a long way, knowing that there are people out there who care. I just couldn’t believe that the Albion do all this.”

MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH FOOTBALL

After having such a good experience with Brighter Outlook, Mike was keen to try out some of our other programmes too.

More Than Football – a programme designed to bring men together through football and help their mental health – stood out to Mike.

“I asked Cara if I could go along to the More Than Football programme to try and give myself a bit of a mental health boost,” he said.

Mike joined the programme and started playing in a group that is predominantly made up of AITC disability footballers.

“What a fantastic bunch of people! They made me feel so welcome, being so friendly and messaging me really supportive things.

“One of the guys texted me: ‘Mike, if you need anything, you know where we are, give me a call any time.’

“People in grassroots football like this are all decent human beings. If you need help, they’ll give you help. All the guys down there are fabulous.

“You realise that all the blokes down there are amazing, and we’ve all just got different burdens we can help each other bear.”

PROSTATE CANCER

Mike was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and he is keen to highlight the dangers to other people who may be at risk.

Prostate cancer affects more men in the UK than any other form of cancer; there are upwards of 50,000 cases diagnosed ever year.

Of those 50,000 people, sadly 12,000 will die every year.

“It’s massive, and I think a lot of people don’t realise how many people are at risk,” Mike told us.

“People over 50: please just get tested. If you’ve got it, the earlier you catch it, the better your chance of survival.

“I didn’t quite get tested early enough. For old fellas like me, it’s really important. The earlier you catch it, the longer you’re gonna live.

“It’s important you do it, and you don’t even have to go to your doctors to do it. There are events where you can just book a slot online and turn up.

“It’s easy to do and it might save your life.”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

While Mike’s 10 weeks with Brighter Outlook are over, his association with AITC certainly isn’t.

Mike will continue to play at his More Than Football group, and he even hopes to be involved in our Kick Off The Weight programme after his radiotherapy has ended.

“Now I’m on the waiting list for the Kick Off The Weight programme, and I can’t wait to get going,” Mike said.

Much like his motivation for joining Brighter Outlook before his treatment, Mike wants to be as fit and healthy as possible after it.

“It’ll be worth doing after the radiotherapy to help me cope with the effects of it,” he said.

“I’m never gonna be running marathons you know, but I just want to be as fit as I can be.”

After being so impressed with Albion in the Community, Mike has also signed up to become a Community Champion – a group who donate £5 a month to support our life-changing work.

Being a Community Champion is the best way you can support us – you can sign up to become one here: https://bhafcfoundation.org.uk/support-us/become-a-community-champion/

This article was written when our name was Albion in the Community. As of August 1 2023, we are the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation.